After a weeks time, I present Chapter Four. We have in it, the shortest Brawl ever, and possibly a good deal of sarcasm. That said, any Canon experts running around, If I've forgotten anything, please let me know. Thanks.

Note, as always, Pern is not mine, Anne McCaffrey is the owner of the wonderful place, and the only thing I get out of this, is the thrill of hitting submit at 11:57pm.


Chapter Four

The Rules

Scritch, Scritch, Scritch, went the CandidateMaster's quill as he hastily scribbled signature after signature onto Candidate forms. He had given the new Candidates a generous amount of time to get unpacked, a whole Candlemark to unpack then try to get along with their fellow Candidates in the Common-Room. He was doing the least favorite part of the job, paperwork. Even as he thought about it, the CandidateMaster wondered briefly why it was still called paperwork, turns after the last paper press had gone silent. Technically speaking it should be hide-work now, but for some odd reason paperwork it remained.

Sadly, whatever he chose to call it, it needed to be done and fast. He knew he was running on borrowed time with this new group, and he'd best have the forms ready for them to complete before they got restless, or Faranth knew what would happen. Still writing madly Hed'ron continued the frantic dashing off of signatures. Grumbling to himself as his quill broke; he reached for the spare only to be interrupted by the sound of someone in hurry, then a sudden knocking at the door.

"Enter." It was a command that was immediately obeyed, and as the door opened, Hed'ron recognized Sameon, one of the three remaining candidates from his last class. Sameon was breathing hard, and jumping to conclusions in the way that only seasoned CandidateMasters can, Hed'ron said, "It's the newcomers, correct?" Sameon nodded and managed to gasp out, "In the Common-Room, going to be a fight very soon." Hed'ron nodded and stood, having signed his name three more times while listening. "If you'd do me a favor and sort these into two equal piles, then bring them to the Common-Room. I'd appreciate it greatly. I'll go deal with this mess."

He stood and walked from the office, heading towards the Common-Room by a back route, known only to those who had lived at the Weyr a good length of time. Watching the CandidateMaster leave, Sameon had one thought, and one alone, "Glad I'm not the newcomers." Speaking of which, Hed'ron's walk had brought him to a small entrance to the Common-Room, hidden from the careless eyes of the new group. They were in a loose circle, except for the two or three huddled as far back against the wall as they could get. In the center on the circle were two of the older boys, Khat, and another boy, Doron if his memory was correct.

At present it was Khat who spoke, "If you ever say that about my face again, I'll squash yours." This got a smirk from Doron, "Sure thing, Wherry Face." With a growl Khat drew back a fist, ready to throw the first punch of what would be, correction, would have been, a remarkable fight. However, Hed'ron didn't want blood on the rugs, and so stepped from his observation post, saying in such a quiet voice it was barely heard, "That's quite enough now, stand down or face the consequences." Not realizing who it was behind him, Doron shot back, "You and what army?!" Heads were turning, and the excitement of the impending fight died as everyone realized who the speaker was. Slowly Doron turned around as well, and found himself face to face with the CandidateMaster.

Hed'ron despite the look of ice on his face, rather enjoyed his next response, "Don't need an army, got all the power I need right here." With that, he flourished his quill, and mimed righting on an invisible hide, speaking all the while, "Candidate Doron and Candidate Khat have been found unworthy of the duties, responsibilities, and rewards of Candidacy. They are to be removed from the Weyr, on foot with rations and not to be readmitted into Candidacy. Signed, CandidateMaster Hed'ron."

"It's easy as that lads, and somewhat quick and painless, for me at least. How would ye feel showing back up at the Hall, with that note to your Master, read aloud to the entire Hall or Hold? Not pretty eh?" Two heads slowly nodded, still in shock of the CandidateMaster's act. "Good then lads, ye'll be let off with the usual warning, and all's forgiven, for now. Really I must indeed thank you two, for I had almost forgotten it was time to discuss the rules in my Barracks and about the Weyr itself. Feel free to take a seat, as this may take a bit." New Candidates drifted here and there finding seats. Hed'ron noted that Khat and Doron were as far apart as could be, and that despite his tactic of separation while assigning Cots, the groups still were very much in evidence.

Just as everyone was seated, Sameon appeared at the regular entrance to the Common room, a stack of hides in each arm. Spotting him, Hed'ron, called out, "Thank you Candidate, if you could distribute the hides to the appropriate gender, it would be appreciated. Sameon nodded, "Yes CandidateMaster." Hed'ron nodded in approval; Sameon had a good head on him, and had figured out that this was a formal occasion, thus none of the first name business. He went about his task quickly, and when he was finished, withdrew, leaving once again, the New Candidates and their Master.

Hed'ron took a moment, staring the new class in the eyes, each and every one of them. He noted reactions as always, those who flinched away, those who never met his gaze, and then, the three who met his gaze head on. Then it was time for the rules.

As I list the rules out, quills and inkpots will be going around, fill out the form given to you and when I am done speaking place them in two piles, girls on the table to my left, boys the one on the right. Am I understood?" Not a sound came from the candidates, but Hed'ron saw a good many head nodding.

"Very good. I'll start with the Weyr rules as they will pertain to you longer then the Candidate Barracks rules will. First off, any malicious fights, demeaning conduct without ample reason, disrespect to those ranking you, and any misconduct of a sexual nature will be reported to both myself, and the Head Women. If it must go to the Weyrleader…Well, you'd better pack your bags. Secondly, to earn their stay at Ista, each Candidate is required to do service to the Weyr. This could be anything from mucking out the Weyrling Wallows, to scrubbing dishes, to grounds work. Assignments will be changed daily, with five Candidates working in a group. Groups will be changed each Sevenday. Neglect of service to the Weyr will be punished by confinement to the Barracks when not on service duty."

"Thirdly, as Candidates you are required to help fight Thread. In your case, you will be breaking, sorting, and bagging Firestone for the Weyrling Couriers. You will have to earn this assignment, as I will not assign you to it until I am sure, beyond all doubt, that you are of good character." He faded off, mentally apologizing to the New Weyrlings for the extra Fortnight or two of Firestone work. "Next, is the general law of the land, any item stolen, borrowed without returning, or cheated for, will be required to be returned in pristine condition, plus reimbursement for the crime. Repeated offenses may result in being required to report to the Weyrleader and expulsion."

Stopping to briefly rearrange his mental notes, Hed'ron looked around, seeing many regarding question five on the form with longing eyes. "Feel free to answer number five with more than one choice. Now, onto the Candidate Barracks rules and schedule in general. While here, your personal life is yours. You are not obligated to reveal anything about it to anyone you do not wish to. Excessive prying is considered an offense and can be reported. Rules about theft, work, and fighting are the same, except I will deal with you slightly harder here because I can. Now, a warning so listen carefully. By now you all have heard about the Goldflights, and later on there'll be a lesson on them. What I mean to say here is this. Anyone, and I mean anyone, who takes someone by force during a Goldflight and tries to blame it on lust is out, no excuses." His voice was a dangerous whisper, daring someone to oppose him. When no-one did, the list continued, "Right, I'm not your mother, so who you choose to entertain with is your own choice." However, and ladies who find themselves with child will not be standing this time around. This caused some chuckling from the boys of the group until the CandidateMaster's voice boomed out, "And the Father of the child will be assigned care duty in the Creche to learn his mistakes, for at least two SevenDays." No-one laughed this time, and still the rules dragged onward.

It was nearly a Candlemark later that the schedule was finished, and by the CandidateMaster's internal clock, just before dinner time. "Alright, at Ista we eat dinner from the Sixth Candlemark to the Eighth. Anyone on kitchen staff will eat before that time, as told by the cook. Before we head off to the Dining Hall, please put your papers where I told you to earlier than, change for dinner and meet just outside the Barracks. That will be all." Having finished his work for the moment, Hed'ron exited, and beat a hasty retreat to his office. Strictly speaking, the class had behaved, but there had been an undercurrent, something that wasn't quite right. Back before Impression, Hed'ron had been a Seacrafter, and his bones, finely tuned to people, were telling him something wasn't right.

It was an upsetting thought; most of his classes were good, willing and helpful. This one, well as much as he hated to admit it, he'd need help with. He needed an assistant.


Right then, Chapter Five may, or may not appear in the near future. I can tell you this though, in it we get to see what the Weyrleader thinks of all this, and maybe, just maybe meet an assistant. Until then...